Cathode ray tube support



y 11, 1939- A. BLAIN.

CATHODE RAY TUBE SUPPORT Filed June 50, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zhwentor Z "0 g m fl k\ F 1 4 M w /0 {i W m z fl .i |w u iw lukw L P attorney July 11, 1939. A. BLAIN 2,165,779

CATHODE RAY TUBE SUPPORT Filed June so, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mentor attorney Patented July ll, 1 939 um-mu STATE-S i CATHODE RAY TUBE SUPPORT Albert Blain, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Radio Corporation ofAmerica, a corporation of Delaware Application June so, 1937, Serial No. 151,134

3 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical apparatus of they type employing cathode ray tubes, and particularly to means for supporting a cathode ray tube.

5 In apparatus of the above-mentioned type, such as television receivers and cathode ray oscillographs, it. is desirable to have an inexpensive structure which will hold the cathode ray tube "securely in position'and which is so designed that the tube may be removed easily from the apparatus. 'If deflecting coils are employed for deflecting the cathode ray, the problem of obtaining a suitable cathode ray tube mounting is complicated by the fact that the deflecting coil unit or deflecting yoke surrounds the tube.

, Since the preferred deflecting yoke is a solid cylindrical structure, the tube must be moved endways into it. A split yoke would overcome this difliculty, but such yokes are objectionable from the manufacturing standpoint.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide an improved supporting structure .for' cathode ray tubes.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved mounting for cathode 'ray tubes having deflecting coils. 4

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an improved cathode ray tube and def fleeting coil assembly for television receivers,

cathode ray oscillographs, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, deflecting yoke is mounted on the chassis of the television receiver or the like and opposite an opening in the front panel of the apparatus, this end of the cathode ray tube. A plurality of spring members are so mounted around the periphery of this opening that when the cathode ray tube is moved into position from the front 40 of the apparatus, the spring members engage the periphery of the large end of the tube and hold it in position.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a portion of a television receiver embodying my invention, I

Figure 2 is a front view of the supporting spring structure employed in the receiver shown in Fig.-

1, and

Figure 3 is a view taken in cross-section on the line3--3 in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a portion of a television receiver in which a cathode opening being large enough to admit the large ray tube In is mounted horizontally. The re ceiver includes a cabinet having a front panel H. A television chassis, indicated at 12, is supported inside the cabinet, most of ,the chassis elements being omitted from the drawings in order to simplify it. 7

The cathodeiray tube I0 is of a well-known type comprising an evacuated envelope, one portion of which is cylindrical and of comparatively small diameter and the other portion of which 10 is conical in shape and of comparatively large diameter at the extreme end.

In the receiver illustrated, the cathode ray is deflected by'means of a deflecting coil unit or yoke indicated at l3. The yoke may beof any suitable construction but, preferably, is of the type described and claimed in application Serial No. 66,171, filed February 28, 1936, in the name of William A. Tolson, and assigned to the Radio Corporation of America. The deflecting yoke illustrated is of this type. It is in the'form of a cylinder having an opening of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the tube ID whereby it may be slipped over the small end of the tube.

The yoke I3 is supported in a bracket llex-, tending from the chassis-I2.

The cabinet panelll has an opening t6 therein which is large enough to receive the large end of the tube In. A removable bezel I'I fits over the end of the tube and is supported in a manner which is described hereinafter,

Referring now to the spring-supporting structure for the cathode raytube, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, it comprises a plurality of springs 18 which engage the front edge of the tube Ill and a plurality of springs l9 which engage the conical portion of the tube near-the front end thereof. The springs l8 and I9 arelocated alternately around the periphery of the opening 10 and are riveted'or otherwise suitably fastened to a supporting ring 2t attached to the panel II.

It be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1 that, with the bezel I! removed, the tube Ill may be moved into position in-the receiver from the front side thereof. When placing the tube in the receiver, the small end of the tube is guided through the deflecting yoke l3. As the conical surface of the tube engages the springs"! they are moved outwardly and finally slide over the front edge of the tube. The conical surface is now in engagement with the springs'lS; Since the springs l8 tend to move the tube in one direction, while the springs l9 tend to move it in the opposite direction, the front end of the tube is v v held firmly in a centralized position. The other .end of the tube is, of course, supported by .the

yoke ll. V

. When a cathode ray tube is supported as described above, the tube socket which engages the contact pins at the small and of the tube (not shown) usuallyis attached to the end of a tie:- ible cable since the socket does not needto function as part of the tube support.

After the. tube II has been mounted in theat a diametrically opposite point,

As shown in Fig. 2, the ring II has two keyholeshaped openings 24 and 26 therein at diametrically opposite points. These openings are large enough at one end at least to permit the entrance of the heads 'of the studs projecting from the bezel. Fastened to the back of the ring II there are slotted springs 21 and 28,-the slots of these springs being positioned over the openings 24 and I and being narrower than the heads of the two studs projecting from the bezel I1. I

Itwillbeseenthatthebackendofeachslot is enlarged slightly as indicated at II and II. By giving the narrower part of each slot awidth Just slightly less than the small diameter of the .stud 22, the action of the studs as the bezel is rotated into place is to spread the springs slightly whereby the studs snap into place at the rear of the slots as the beael is rotated into position.

Thus, it will be seen that thebezel may be fastened in position-by putting the bezel studs through the openings 24 and 26 and then rotating the bezel clockwise whereby the stud heads ride up onto the springs 21 and II, the studs finally snapping into place at II and II.

From the foregoing description, it .willbe seen that I have provided a cathode ray tube mounting orassembly which is adapted for economical manufacture in large quantities and which permits easy and rapid replacement of the cathode I claim as my invention:

1. Cathode ray tube apparatus comprising a cabinet in which is to be mounted a cathode ray tube of the type comprising an evacuated envelope which is enlarged at one end whereby said envelope has a point of maximum diameter and has a smaller diameter on each side of said point and which is of comparatively small diameter at the other end, said cabinet having a front panel,

. said panel having an opening therein large enough to admit the enlarged end of said tube, a plurality of springs located around said opening and so mounted on said panel as to engage the enlarged portion of said envelope 'on one side of said from the f area- 77a" point, and a plurality of springs located around said opening and so mounted on said panel as to engage the enlarged portion of said envelope on the opposite side of said point whereby said tube may be moved into said cabinet from the front side thereof into a position where said springs grip said enlarged. portion to hold it securely in position.

2. Cathode ray tube apparatus comprising a cabinet in which is to be mounted a cathode ray tube of the type comprising an evacuated envelope which is enlarged at one end whereby said envelope has a point of maximum diameter and has a smaller diameter on each side of said point and which is of comparatively small diameter at the other end,'said cabinet having a front panel, said panel having an opening therein large enough to admit the enlarged end of said tubeya plurality of springs located around said opening and so mounted on said panel as to engage the enlarged portion of said envelope on one side of said point, a plurality of springs located around said opening and so mounted on said panel as to engage the enlarged portion of said envelope on the opposite side of said point, and a deflecting coil yoke 2 mounted in said cabinet with an opening therein in line with the opening in said panel whereby said tube may be moved into said cabinet from the front side thereof into position where the small end of said tube passes through said yoke and where said springs grip said enlarged portion to hold it securely in position.

3. Cathode ray tube apparatus comprising a cabinet in whichis to be mounted a cathode ray tube of the type comprising an evacuated envelope which is enlarged at one end whereby said envelope has a point of maximum diameter and has I a smaller diameter on each side of said point and which is of comparatively small diameter at the other end, said cabinet having a front panel, said panel having an opening therein large enough to admit the enlarged end of said tube, a supporting ring, a plurality of springs located around said opening and so mounted on said supporting ring as to engage the enlarged portion of said envelope, on one side of said point, a plurality of springslocated around said opening and so mounted on said supporting ring as to engage the enlarged portion of said envelope on the opposite side of said point, and a deflecting coilyoke mounted in said cabinet with an opening therein in line with the opening in said panel whereby said tube may be moved into said cabinet from the front side thereof into position where the small end of said tube passes through said yoke'andwhere said springs grip said enlarged portion to hold it se- Jcurely in position, and a bezel for said front panel opening, said bezel having supporting studs projecting therefrom, and means on said supporting ring for engaging the ends of said studs to hold said bezel in position.

ALBERT BLAIN. 

